The wait is finally over for League of Legends fans around the world, as Riot Games has announced the introduction of a brand-new international tournament, adding to the already esteemed MSI and Worlds events that have been staples of the calendar for years. This exciting development comes in response to community demands, and it’s set to shake up the competitive scene in a major way. The inaugural edition of this tournament, dubbed the First Stand, will feature the best teams from five prominent regions: the LEC, LTA, LCK, LPL, and LCP.
Each of these regions has already determined its representative for the tournament, with the top team from the first split of the year earning a coveted spot. This means that fans will be treated to a week-long extravaganza of high-stakes competition, with the world’s elite teams clashing in a battle for supremacy. The tournament is scheduled to kick off on Monday, March 10, and will run until Sunday, March 16, ensuring that viewers will have a constant stream of thrilling matches to look forward to throughout the week.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The group stage, which will take place from Monday to Friday, will feature a round-robin format, where each team will face off against every other team. The ‘Hard Fearless Draft’ system will be used, allowing teams to pick champions only once per series, and each match will be a best-of-three affair. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, which will be played on Saturday, March 15, with the winners moving on to the final the following day. The semifinals and final will be played as best-of-five matches, ensuring that the teams will have to be at the top of their game to emerge victorious.
In terms of scheduling, the group stage matches will commence at 9:00 AM Spanish time, while the semifinals will take place at 5:00 AM on Saturday, and the final will revert to the 9:00 AM time slot on Sunday. Although the timing may not be ideal for Spanish fans, it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to witness the best of the best in action.
Participating Teams
The five teams that will be competing in the First Stand are:
- CTBC Flying Oyster (LCP)
- Karmine Corp (LEC)
- Team Liquid (LTA)
- Top Esports (LPL)
- Hanwha Life (LCK)
As expected, the two teams representing the prominent Asian regions, Top Esports and Hanwha Life, are being touted as the favorites to win the tournament. However, the competition is expected to be fierce, and any of the participating teams could potentially cause an upset.
With the stage set for an unforgettable week of League of Legends action, fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the start of the First Stand. Will Top Esports and Hanwha Life live up to their billing as favorites, or will one of the other teams pull off a stunning upset? Tune in to find out, as the world’s best teams clash in this exciting new tournament.
